High pressure liquid level gauge



Dec- 29, 1936.

J. R. BROWN HIGH PRESSURE LIQUID LEVEL GAUGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1953 I VENTOR. J0%// fi oz'a/azrc/ 3/4020 ATTORN E' Dec. 29, 1936. J. R. BROWN HIGH PRESSURE LIQUID LEVEL GAUGE Filed Feb. 8, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. efofi/r ffozufdfici Brow/1 Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES HIGH PRESSURE LIQUID LEVEL GAUGE John Rowland Brown, Cleveland Heights, Ohio,

assignor to The Reliance Gauge Column Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 8, 1933, Serial No. 655,700

4 Claims.

In liquid-level gauges subjected to high pressures at high temperatures, disproportionately drastic handicaps are encountered. While it is desired to keep fluid passageways as small as possible and the entire device light and free from clumsiness, tendencies to restriction of free levelresponse and tendencies to slight distortion and leakage have militated in general against such ideal. When efforts have been made to accentuate visibility by dividing the sight-chamber up into non-aligned sections, these difilculties have been particularly encountered. A gauge construction which presents fool-proof visibility, together with free level-response and general security is accordingly an important desideratum.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

, In said annexed drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale, taken on a plane substantially indicated by line II--II, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary similar sectional view disassembled; and Figs. 4 and 5 are front elevational and sectional views of a modification.

In its general aspects, the invention contemplates a liquid-level gauge having, sight slot- 5 chambers in parallel relation, one extending higher than the other, and having transparent covers on the slot portions of the chamber members. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a convenient construction involves a heavy body member 2 which may be initially integral for both the upper and lower portions, or which may be assembled by welding the two corresponding portions together. Slots 3 are formed in the respective portions, and over each slot is a recess or cut-out 4 sized to receive the transparent cover member. While the transparent cover member may in some cases be suitably heavy glass plates or strips, generally it is preferable to employ a flexible transparent non-corroding material, such as mica 5. In such case, a backing-up or cover plate 6 is superposed thereover. The cover plate is slotted to correspond in general to the slot of the member 2, but the opening is in general narrower, and desirably is beveled as at 1. Seating against the 5 cover plate is a. plurality of clamping members 8,

preferably in the form of lever-clamps, one arm of which engages the cover plate, while the other arm engages the body member 2. Bolts or screw threaded studs 9, with nuts Ill, complete the assembly. A gasket II is of course desirably in- 5 terposed between the bodymember 2 and the transparent cover, such gasket also being slotted to correspond with the general opening.

In its features of passageway connection, the assembly provides a conduit I2 which connects 10 with the upper portion of the upper memuer 2 branching thereto, and with the upper portion of the lower member 2 and again another conduit l3 connecting the lower portion of the upper member 2 and the lower portion of the lower 15 member 2*. Connection nipples l4, l5 are provided for joining with the water column, in usual or preferred manner. Opposite the branch of the conduit l2 leading into the upper portion of the upper member 2 is a plug l6, screw threadedly secured, whereby cleaning of the horizontal passage may be readily accomplished, and similarly a plug I1 is provided opposite the connection of the conduit IS in the lower member 2 The sight slot-members are thus in generally parallel relation simultaneously visible, overlapping for some little distance or one slot-chamber is shorter above and the other is shorter below. As a result, the liquid meniscus is always clearly visible in both slots at the optimum or one slot or the other, and mistake is avoided.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, provides the further advantage of so positioning the slot-chambers that the important matter of illumination can be particularly well taken care of for the critical region. The upper chamber is mounted so as to stand off from the mounting center line of the connection-nipples l4, l5, allowing easy adaptation of lighting means at the rear, free from interference by the water column.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the slot-chambers may be provided in one general block-member 2 having the connectionnipples l5, aligned center-wise with respective bores, while the upper portions of the slotchambers are connected by conduit [2 and the lower portions by conduit l3. If glass is used for the transparent cover material, this in the form of plates 5 and provided with suitable packing gaskets ll may be clamped in position by heavy metal plates l6, these being provided with recesses l1 opposite the recesses 4 in the body member 2 and again, being shaped with a beveled edge about the slot to increase visibility.

As readily seen from the foregoing,-the gauge as assembled and connected to the water column or desired portion of the device, such as the boiler to be equipped, allows free access of steam and water to the slot-chambers in such manner in alignment therewith, a connection from said conduit to the upper portion of said upper slotchamber, and an angular connection between the lower portions oi said slot-chambers.

CERTIFICATE Patent No. 2,065,646.

2. A liquid-level gauge for high pressures comprising sight slot-chambers in parallel simultaneously visible relation, one extending higher than the other to provide complementary indilower slot-chamber and downward from the lower portion of the lower slot-chamber for communication with a boiler.

- JOHN ROWLAND BROWN.

? CORRECTION.

December 29, 193

JOHN ROWLAND BROWN.

5 as to insure, at all times, free response to the cations of liquid level, transparent covers on said 5 fluctuating level in the boiler, and whereas in slot-chambers, means for connecting said slotprior efforts at providing visibility-chambers in chambers in parallel fluid-circuit, including horistaggered relation particular difliculties have oczontal passages wholly aboveand below the curred in attaining a satisfactory mounting, and fluctuating water-surface range, and a passage manufacturing troubles have been out of all proextending upward from the upper portion of the 1 portion to the results obtained, by reason of the lever slot-chamber. excessively long drilling which has been neces- 3. A liquid-level gauge for high pressures comsary, the present invention eliminates the latter, prising sight slot-chambers in parallel simultathus making possible a construction suitable for neously visible relation, one extending higher manufacture, as well as particularly safe and dethan the other to provide complementary indi- 15 sirable in its mounting relations. cations of liquid level, transparent covers on said Other modes of applying the principle of the slot-chambers, means ,for connecting said slotinvention may be employed, change being made chambers in parallel fluid-circuit, said slot-chamas regards the details described, provided the bers having communication with each other only features stated in any of the following claims or at their upper portions and their lower portions, 20 the'equivalent of such,be employed. and central upper and lower connections for I therefore particularly point out and discommunication with a boiler. tlnctly claim as my invention:--- A, 4. A liquid-level gauge for high pressures com- 1. A liquid-level gauge for high pressures comprising sight slot-chambers in parallel simultaprising sight slot-chambers in parallel simultaneously visible, relation, one extending higher 5 neously visible relation, one extending higher than the other to provide complementary indithan the other to provide complementary indicacations oi liquid level, transparent covers on said tions of liquid level, transparent covers on said slot-chambers, means for connecting said slotslot chambers, a conduit extending upward from chambers in parallel fluid-circuit, and conduits the upper portion of the lower slot-chamber and extending upward from the upper portion of the 30 It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification orthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 11, claim 2, for the word "lever" read lower; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of February, A. D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

as assembled and connected to the water column or desired portion of the device, such as the boiler to be equipped, allows free access of steam and water to the slot-chambers in such manner in alignment therewith, a connection from said conduit to the upper portion of said upper slotchamber, and an angular connection between the lower portions oi said slot-chambers.

CERTIFICATE Patent No. 2,065,646.

2. A liquid-level gauge for high pressures comprising sight slot-chambers in parallel simultaneously visible relation, one extending higher than the other to provide complementary indilower slot-chamber and downward from the lower portion of the lower slot-chamber for communication with a boiler.

- JOHN ROWLAND BROWN.

? CORRECTION.

December 29, 193

JOHN ROWLAND BROWN.

5 as to insure, at all times, free response to the cations of liquid level, transparent covers on said 5 fluctuating level in the boiler, and whereas in slot-chambers, means for connecting said slotprior efforts at providing visibility-chambers in chambers in parallel fluid-circuit, including horistaggered relation particular difliculties have oczontal passages wholly aboveand below the curred in attaining a satisfactory mounting, and fluctuating water-surface range, and a passage manufacturing troubles have been out of all proextending upward from the upper portion of the 1 portion to the results obtained, by reason of the lever slot-chamber. excessively long drilling which has been neces- 3. A liquid-level gauge for high pressures comsary, the present invention eliminates the latter, prising sight slot-chambers in parallel simultathus making possible a construction suitable for neously visible relation, one extending higher manufacture, as well as particularly safe and dethan the other to provide complementary indi- 15 sirable in its mounting relations. cations of liquid level, transparent covers on said Other modes of applying the principle of the slot-chambers, means ,for connecting said slotinvention may be employed, change being made chambers in parallel fluid-circuit, said slot-chamas regards the details described, provided the bers having communication with each other only features stated in any of the following claims or at their upper portions and their lower portions, 20 the'equivalent of such,be employed. and central upper and lower connections for I therefore particularly point out and discommunication with a boiler. tlnctly claim as my invention:--- A, 4. A liquid-level gauge for high pressures com- 1. A liquid-level gauge for high pressures comprising sight slot-chambers in parallel simultaprising sight slot-chambers in parallel simultaneously visible, relation, one extending higher 5 neously visible relation, one extending higher than the other to provide complementary indithan the other to provide complementary indicacations oi liquid level, transparent covers on said tions of liquid level, transparent covers on said slot-chambers, means for connecting said slotslot chambers, a conduit extending upward from chambers in parallel fluid-circuit, and conduits the upper portion of the lower slot-chamber and extending upward from the upper portion of the 30 It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification orthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 11, claim 2, for the word "lever" read lower; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of February, A. D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

